Pelagic sharks

Pelagic or oceanic sharks live in the open waters of the seas and oceans. They include the largest of all fish. They inhabit temperate and tropical waters and many are migratory. All sharks are predators. In many cases they are at the apex of their food chains and are therefore an important indicator species for marine ecosystems as a whole.

Priority Species

Pelagic sharks are a WWF priority species. WWF treats priority species as one of the most ecologically, economically and/or culturally important species on our planet. And so we are working to ensure such species can live and thrive in their natural habitats.

Fast, efficient predators under threat

Many pelagic sharks are the top predators in their range, and have few natural predators when fully grown. Pelagic sharks are carnivorous and eat fish, including other sharks on occasion, turtles, seals and penguins.

The 3 largest species of pelagic shark – the whale shark, the basking shark and the megamouth shark – are all filter feeders and eat mainly plankton.

Reproduction

Most pelagic sharks are viviparous - the eggs are fertilized inside the female's body, and live 'pups' are hatched. Reproduction rates are very low, with as few as 2-3 pups born every 13 months or so in some species. Pelagic sharks are slow to reach maturity, often taking as long as 10 years or more.

What is WWF doing?

WWF and TRAFFIC have been lobbying hard for species of shark and ray whose populations have seriously declined due overfishing driven by the international trade in their fins, meat and other parts, to be better managed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

In 2010 WWF lobbied hard to have 6 shark species added to CITES Appendix II. The Porbeagle (a pelagic shark) was initially successfully added to the list, a decision that was overturned on the last day of the meeting, unfortunatley the other 5 were not listed either. Read more.

At the next 2013 meeting of CITES, many organisations and countries responded to the need to better protect sharks and rays, and five species of shark (Porbeagle, Oceanic whitetip and three species of hammerhead sharks), and Manta rays were finally listed on CITES Appediix II. Read more.

To maximise the potential benefits of the CITES listings, WWF and TRAFFIC joined forces in 2014 to launch a new Shark and Ray Initiative, Restoring the Balance.

Spread the word! Click on the button to share this information with others via email or your favourite social networking service.

Help us improve

Please send us comments about ways that we can improve the content on this page.

Did you know?

Blue sharks are found off the coast of every continent except Antarctica.

The whale shark is the largest of all fish and can grow up to 12m long and weigh up to 12,000kg. However, although its jaws can be over 1m in width, it is armed with the tiniest of teeth.

The fastest shark is the shortfin mako shark which can reach speeds of 30-40mph. It can also leap up to 9m above the surface of the water.

The megamouth shark is the rarest and most mysterious pelagic shark species. It was only discovered in 1976, and has only been seen 41 times since.

The tiger shark is known as the 'dustbin' of the oceans and is famous for devouring anything it comes across, regardless of nutritional value. This might include licence plates, tyres or even a suit of armour!

Porbeagle sharks are unique in that they have been known to play tag with other porbeagles, pass seaweed to each other, and toss driftwood out of the water in a manner similar to dolphins.

Most oceanic sharks must keep swimming forwards to force seawater through their open mouths and over their gills to breathe - otherwise they would suffocate.